In today’s news: Cypress Hill on working with the London Symphony Orchestra, New BBC flagship arts show presenter finds theatre too ‘stressful’, and a musical odyssey about the desperate train journeys that divided India. Musikfest Berlin with 44.000 visitors, the Munich Radio Orchestra begins new season with new musical director, Gare du Nord in Basel begins new season.

Taking place in Hamptead and Highgate from 7 to 26 October, the festival – now in its ninth year – aims to throw the ‘stuffy’ rules found in traditional concert halls out the window, in order to offer a more accessible and enjoyable experience rooted in spirituality and relaxation.

The Wortham Theater Center — home to Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet — was so severely damaged by the flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey that it will remain closed through at least May 15, the center announced on Monday night.

Simon Rattle starts his new role as Music Director at the London Symphony Orchestra this month. So as he packs his pencil case for his first season in charge, we spoke to him about getting over nerves, the best piece of advice he’s ever been given and why the future is bright for classical music.

Cannibalism may not be the first word that comes to mind when talking about a classical composer, but it was how Jeremy Dale Roberts described the creative process when writing for gifted musicians in his circle. “[I] draw upon their temperament and behaviour in the narrative of the music: to absorb their presence,” he told a contemporary music website. “A rare form of cannibalism, maybe.”

As a boy soprano in the youth opera company that his parents ran in their small town, the Dutch composer Michel van der Aaonce accompanied his father to the clockmaker who was painting a set for them. What he saw, he recalled recently, was revelatory.

While the company has avoided it for decades—believing it to be a distraction—they’re introducing a soundtrack of more than 1,500 songs from the likes of Taylor Swift to Stevie Wonder to keep you in stores longer and hopefully revive their flagging sales in the process.

Founded in 1895, the BBC Proms are a big part of British culture and the 2017 season begins tonight. For eight weeks of the summer, daily classical music concerts take place at the Royal Albert Hall and other venues across London, including Cadogan Hall, Stage@The Dock and Wilton’s Music Hall.

The term Prom is short for promenade concert, and refers to the outdoor concerts of the 18th century where the audience were able to stroll around while the orchestra played. Since then, the concerts have moved inside and, in the context of the BBC Proms, promming refers to the popular tradition of queueing outside the Royal Albert Hall on the day of the concert for the chance to get a £6 ticket for the standing areas inside the hall. Will you be a “prommer” this summer? Click here for some helpful tips on how to become a Pro-Prommer this year!

Royal Albert Hall: BBC Proms 2017

With the opening of the BBC Proms 2017 tonight, the WildKat team have put together a list of their highlights for this year…

Prom 35, the John Wilson Orchestra performing Oklahoma, appears to be a particular favourite in the office this year due to the magical sound that the orchestra creates and the energy that radiates from them when they perform. Not strictly classical, this prom would be a great one to go to for those who are novice prommers. Not convinced? Let The Spectator’s Richard Bratby, along with John Wilson, tell you why Rodgers and Hammerstein should be taken as seriously as Beethoven.

Another popular choice is Prom 10 with the Aurora Orchestra. Last year the ensemble performed their first prom from memory and it was such a unique experience – every single member of the orchestra completely engaged with the music and the conductor. This year they are performing Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ from memory and we can’t wait.

If you are looking for a musical fusion, then Prom 41 is for you. It brings together Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar, combining Glass’s American Minimalism with Shankar’s sitar and the traditions of Hindustani classical music. The Britten Sinfonia and Karen Kamensek are joined by Shankar’s daughter, sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar.

The Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra makes its Proms debut this year and, since they are one of our clients, the WildKat team are very excited about it. They will be bringing works by two celebrated American composers and we are really looking forward to seeing everything come together.

Cincinatti Symphony Orchestra

Last but certainly not least, Prom 75 – The Last Night of the Proms! What’s not to love about a big party with classical music, waving flags, sing alongs and bobbing along to the Sailor’s Hornpipe?

Following a wonderful party at Fort Worth Zoo yesterday evening (including appearances from flamingos, baby racoons, and a skunk), first on the menu this morning was a fascinating symposium on Cultural Diplomacy.After Stuart Isacoff’s introduction to arts diplomacy between America and Russia from the end of World War Two up until the fall of the Berlin Wall, we heard from panellists Marc Thayer, Sarah Tanguy, and Patrick Castillo.

Images: Fort Worth Zoo

First we heard from Marc Thayer, former deputy director of American Voices, which takes musicians abroad to countries including Iraq and Afghanistan, to teach and perform music to locals. Marc emphasised the good relations this forms with local musicians, leaving a favourable and lasting impression of American culture. Rather than just taking American music to these communities, they build on the practices already in place, using the music of the countries they visit together with American music.

Founded in 1953 and formalised by President Kennedy, Arts in Embassies takes American artists to participate abroad, engaging over 20,000 people to date in 189 countries. Professional curators, such as Sarah Tanguy, create around 60 exhibitions per year, and since the turn of the century over 58 permanent collections have been installed in diplomatic facilities all over the world.

Patrick Castillo, a composer, performer, writer, and educator, has taken part at The Festival de Música Contemporánea de La Habana three times. Having started as the only American participant, the most recent festival saw ten members of the American Composers Forum attend. Patrick cited lack of equipment in Cuba as a major problem, and said that on subsequent visits, composers and musicians took across suitcases of reeds, strings, pencils, and manuscript paper.

Throughout the discussion it emerged that sadly these schemes are not something that the State Department likes to trumpet, fearing accusations of misspending of public money.Thus reciprocal schemes giving opportunities for oversees artists to visit the States have not yet taken flight. All three speakers were also nervous about funding cuts, with the future of their organisations not guaranteed.

Before announcing the winners, Leonard Slatkin (Jury Chair), gave a though-provoking speech, reminding us all that music has the power to transport us to a better place, and that the competitors all have the responsibility to advance the cause of great art. Cliburn CEO Jacques Marquis, and Chairman Carla Kemp Thompson offered their thanks to all the competitors and the fantastic Cliburn team working so hard to make the competition such a great success for both Fort Worth, and classical music.

Image: Leonard Slatkin

The final round will begin on Wednesday at 7.30pm. Each competitor performs twice: on June 7–8, each finalist will join the Brentano String Quartet for a piano quintet. Then, on June 9–10, each will perform a concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Excitingly for the audience, no two competitors will play the same piano concerto, with repertoire consisting of: Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 and No. 3, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4, and Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

The winners of the Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition will be announced in the Awards Ceremony, which begins at 7.00pm on June 10. As always, the finals can be streamed live at cliburn2017.medici.tv. Besides the performances, presenters Anderson and Roe give a fascinating insight into life backstage. The finals will also be broadcast at a later date on Classic FM, who are the Cliburn’s Official UK Broadcast Partner.

Image: The six finalists of the Cliburn

Kat and James are currently in Fort Worth for the finals, and will be tweeting from @WildKatPR. Follow us for updates.

In today’s news: the difference between Catholic and Protestant church music, and no permission for project ‘tear down this wall!’. Union Verdi and the German Orchestra Union make the Berlin Senate reconsider situation of honorary music teachers. European Union Baroque Orchestra moves to Belgium post-Brexit. Intelligent headphones, and is the ‘classical’ music label relevant in 2017?

Kate Molleson reports on how the ‘classical’ music label is proving outdated for many of today’s creative artists and speaks to several musicians for whom the whole notion of genre is entirely irrelevant.

We had the chance to catch up with Jacques Marquis, CEO of The Cliburn, to find out what makes The Cliburn so special, as well as how it aims to attract a wider global audience.

Have a look at the interview here!

Screening auditions are underway, having already visited London and Hannover. So far we’ve seen and heard many talented young pianists.

Photo from London screening auditions

Besides the screening auditions, The Cliburn also held a launch event in London, with The Cliburn 2013’s semi-finalist Jayson Gillham showcasing his beautiful playing in Bach arr. Rachmaninoff and Chopin.

Photo: Pianist Jayson Gillham rehearsing at The Cliburn 2017 launch event in London

In addition, The Cliburn’s new partnership with medici.tv, who will be live-streaming the competition this year, will help realise the competition’s goal of reaching new international audiences.

WildKat PR sends its best wishes to this year’s participants! We can’t wait to see the 30 pianists that will make it to the Preliminary Round in Fort Worth, Texas, later this year.

In today’s classical news, read about Groupmuse, a service currently provided in parts of U.S., bringing classical music to your living room. BBC launches project to uncover works by female composers in joint partnership with Arts and Humanities Reserach Council. Rubicon Classics, a label that will launch in January that aims to bring a new audience to classical music by marketing itself primarily on social media and the internet. Also, Fort Worth Symphony’s strike is likely to end soon, as the management and the musicians might have reached a tentative agreement.

BBC Radio 3 is beginning a project to uncover the lost works of women composers in a joint partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The aim will be to locate music by forgotten composers and record it by making use of the BBC’s orchestras and choirs.

Today is the 225th anniversary of the death of Mozart on 5 December, 1791. Anyone unaware of the dramatic licence taken in the play and film “Amadeus” might think that the genius composed the last bars of his Requiem on his deathbed, but reality didn’t quite live up to that story.

Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano, created the instrument around the turn of the 18th century. The first hard evidence of a piano in existence comes from an inventory of goods from 1700, in which it is referred to as a harp harpsichord.

In today’s classical news, The 2016 Violin Society of America International Instrument and Bow Making Competition, which was hold in Cleveland, USA, has announced this year’s prizes and winners. London-based Violin Maker, Gabor Draskoczy, received dual gold medals for both ‘Violin Tone’ and ‘Violin Workmanship’ categories. Funeral Song, an early work by Stravinsky has been rediscovered in 2015, and will receive its first performance in 107 years in St Petersburg on 2 December. Also, findings from a study are helping researchers understand why music lessons are beneficial to children with autism and ADHD.

Shakespeare Week, a free scheme for primary school children and their families, will have a musical theme in 2017, with Birmingham Conservatoire principal Julian Lloyd Webber appointed as patron and the release of a new song for assemblies.

Classical music has begun seeping into the household recently. New platforms are connecting classical performers and listeners directly, allowing consumers to customize the music they listen to. Mini-concerts are now being held inside homes, returning classical music to its salon origins.

CSO is a dynamic ensemble of some of the world’s finest musicians. As the sixth oldest symphony orchestra in the U.S. and the oldest orchestra in Ohio, it has played a leading role in the cultural life of Greater Cincinnati and the Midwest since its founding in 1895.

Louis Langrée, CSO’s current Music Director, began his tenure as the CSO’s 13th Music Director in the 2013-2014 season with a celebrated program. The New York Times said “deftly combined nods to the orchestra’s history, the city’s musical life and new music.” Over the Orchestra’s 120-year history, it has also been led by Leopold Stokowski, Eugène Ysaÿe, Fritz Reiner, Eugene Goossens, Max Rudolf, Thomas Schippers, Jesús López-Cobos, and Paavo Järvi, among others.

During the 2015-16 season, the CSO continued the tradition of commissioning new music with the world premieres of seven works including three Concertos for Orchestra, by composers Sebastian Currier, Thierry Escaich and Zhou Tian. Live recordings were made out of each of these new concertos for commercial release, and is the second CSO recording with Music Director Louis Langrée. The album will be released on 17th November by the Orchestra’s own record label Fanfare. A short web documentary will soon be released in three parts, covering each of the three pieces and featuring interviews with Louis Langrée and the three composers who come from three different continents.